Bryan S. Barrett signed the loan as general partner of MMB Memphis Real Estate.

Built in 1996, the 2,167-square-foot restaurant sits on 0.8 acres at the southeast corner of South Perkins Road and Showcase Boulevard, just south of Interstate 240.

The Shelby County Assessor of Property’s 2013 appraisal is $420,400.

MMB Memphis Real Estate, which also owns a Taco Bell at 1279 Ridgeway Road in East Memphis, bought the Perkins Taco Bell in 2010 for $763,957.

Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports

– Daily News staff

University of Memphis Law School Racks Up Distinctions

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has received multiple awards, rankings and individual recognitions of late.

The National Jurist has ranked the school as one of the best-value law schools in the nation in its new rankings. The school scored an “A-” in the rankings because of high bar-passage rates, affordable tuition, average debt upon graduation, employment rate and an attractive cost of living.

The school also was also listed as a "best bargain law school for black students" by Lawyers of Color magazine. Additionally, the school was recognized by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) at its 45th anniversary celebration earlier this fall. The school was recognized as a member of the inaugural group of William A. Blakey Diversity Pipeline Architects and featured in CLEO’s “45 for 45” celebration, which recognized 45 law schools, 45 law firms, corporations and associations, and 45 individuals.

Meanwhile, the school also had the highest bar-passage rate among public schools in Tennessee on the most recent bar exam in July, with a pass rate of 91 percent. That’s higher than the state average of 84 percent for first-time test takers on the July bar exam.

– Andy Meek

Revid Partners With Mid-South Food Bank

Revid Realty is offering to match food donations to help feed the hungry this Thanksgiving season.

Revid is asking people to donate canned food items this November, and the Revid team will match those donations can-for-can. The campaign is part of the Mid-South Food Bank’s largest food drive of the year, Operation Feed.

The Revid drive lasts until Nov. 25. The cans and other nonperishable food items can be dropped off in the lobby of Revid’s office, 2109 Peabody Ave.

– Amos Maki

Final 2002-Series GED Test Set for Dec. 12

The Shelby County Testing Center on Dec. 12 will offer its final GED test using the 2002 series test for a high school equivalency diploma.

Dec. 12 is the also the deadline to complete all current tests in the 2002 series, or those seeking the diploma will lose the score they earned and have to start the process over next year using the 2014 series GED test.

Tennessee GOP Settles Lawsuit With Top Aide

The Tennessee Republican Party and former chief of staff Mark Winslow have settled a lawsuit over the public disclosure of his severance pay after he left the state GOP.

Republican U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Chattanooga and political operative Chip Saltsman remain defendants in the case headed for trial on Feb. 24.

“I am pleased we have reached an amicable resolution of this unfortunate matter and look forward to Mark’s continuing good work for the party and our principles,” state Republican Party Chairman Chris Devaney said in a release Thursday.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Devaney chose not to retain Winslow after he was elected to replace former Chairwoman Robin Smith, who left the position in 2009 to run for Congress.

Winslow went to work as a top aide to Smith’s campaign, and later details of the confidential severance agreement became the subject of media reports and ads by Fleischmann’s campaign. Fleischmann ended up winning the nomination and the general election.

“Their target was Robin Smith, but they used Mark Winslow, who had worked for the party, and is still on the state executive committee,” said Winslow’s attorney, Gary Blackburn. “And they described his behavior as at least unethical and probably illegal.”

Winslow sued Fleishman, Saltsman and the state GOP in Davidson County Circuit Court, seeking a combined $750,000 in damages on the basis that his reputation had been unfairly damaged by the disclosures.

Saltsman, in testimony last year, said documents describing the payments were left anonymously on the steps of the garage at his home.

– The Associated Press

US Treasury Chief Visits Asia This Week

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew makes a five-nation swing through Asia this week and will reiterate that completion of an ambitious trans-Pacific trade pact by the year’s end remains a top U.S. priority.

Lew will also visit China to discuss the results of a high-level Communist party meeting expected to unveil key economic reforms this weekend.

Lew begins his trip in Japan Tuesday. He then travels to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam, before visiting China.

All those nations except China are in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which aims to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers.

Finalizing such a highly complex agreement by year’s end – a goal reaffirmed by leaders of the 12 participating nations last month – remains a tough task.

– The Associated Press

Rule Gives Parity for Mental Health Coverage

A new Obama administration rule requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance abuse no differently than they do for physical illnesses.

The Obama administration had pledged to issue a final mental health parity rule as part of its effort to reduce gun violence.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says patients seeking mental health or substance abuse care have at time suffered discrimination through higher out-of-pocket costs or stricter limits on hospital stays or visits to the doctor.

Walgreen Closes on Kerr Drug Transaction

Walgreen has closed on its acquisition of Kerr Drug’s 76 retail drugstores and its specialty pharmacy business.

Walgreen Co. announced the deal in September. The transaction also includes a distribution center, but does not include the long-term care pharmacy business of Kerr, a privately held regional chain.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

The buyout will help Walgreen, the nation’s biggest drugstore chain, expand its North Carolina presence.

Walgreen has been on an acquisition-fueled growth spurt.

Last year, the Deerfield, Ill. company said it would buy a stake in European health and beauty retailer Alliance Boots, the largest drugstore chain in the United Kingdom, in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $6.7 billion. Walgreen also has an option to buy the rest of the company in a few years.

Walgreen also spent $438 million to buy a regional chain that runs USA Drug, Super D and May’s drugstores. It said that deal would help it expand to smaller communities.